Three memorable moments at Martinsville
CONCORD, N.C. – Martinsville Speedway has always been a special track for Hendrick Motorsports.
Not only is the paperclip oval the site of the team’s first Cup victory, it’s also the track where Hendrick Motorsports has recorded the most wins (21), top-five finishes (72) and top-10s (112). It’s a place that many drivers love to race at and its iconic trophy – the grandfather clock – is one that everyone wants to take home.
“Martinsville is one of those tracks on the schedule I always want to win,” said Jimmie Johnson, who most recently visited the track’s Victory Lane in 2013.
Before heading to Virginia for the 263-mile event, let’s take a look back on three memorable moments at Martinsville for Hendrick Motorsports.
April 29, 1984: Hendrick Motorsports was in trouble. The young team hadn’t won a race, desperately needed a sponsor and was running out of the necessary funds to keep the small shop running. Team Owner Rick Hendrick knew he was going to have to shut his race shop doors indefinitely if Geoff Bodine didn’t win the 1984 spring race at Martinsville Speedway. Luckily, he did. Bodine led 55 laps around the paperclip oval en route to the team’s first Cup win, paving the way for Hendrick Motorsports' 30 years of racing.
Oct. 19, 2003: Jeff Gordon seemed unflappable at Martinsville in 2003. He had given a dominating performance at the Virginia oval in April, winning the pole and leading 190 laps on his way to Victory Lane. And the October race proved no different – Gordon led the field to green once again, pacing the field for a race-high 313 laps before ultimately taking the checkered flag to sweep the track for both poles and wins. Gordon would eventually go on to tie teammate Jimmie Johnson for the most all-time wins at Martinsville, giving the duo dual ownership of the title.
March 29, 2009: Jimmie Johnson was on a Martinsville hot streak. Since October 2006, the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet SS had won at least one race a year at the paperclip oval, totaling four race victories prior to the 2009 season. And the 2009 spring race proved no different – after starting ninth, Johnson led 42 laps before taking the checkered flag at Martinsville for the fifth time in three years. The 33-year-old driver led 886 laps around the short track during that time period alone and currently ranks second to teammate Jeff Gordon for most career laps led at Martinsville among active drivers. Johnson also broke the record for most all-time wins at the track in April 2013 and now shares the title with teammate Gordon.
